Kimberly
Van Sickle
Writer by birth. Author by choice.
Notable 100 Book in the 2023 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book
Writer by birth. Author by choice.
I started Assassins Are Us 8 years ago and put it on a shelf, but a year ago, I decided to dust it off and finish the final act. What resulted was a rediscovered passion for writing and a published YA humor, romance, and mystery novel.
As a lifetime reader and evolving writer, I have always enjoyed fiction that left me wishing there was more to read, made me long for a sequel, or kept me thinking about its intricacies long after I turned the last page. My purpose in writing is to provide for an audience who appreciates plot twists, intrigue, and smart dialogue, which I have crafted to carry them to a surprising and satisfying final chapter.
I have been an educator and library director for over 30 years, but I have been a plot junkie my entire life. I value any medium that keeps me guessing and/or thinking throughout any novel, short story, piece of poetry, movie, and the like. I believe this sentiment accurately describes my style of writing.
I live in Saint Charles, Illinois, with my husband, Kyle, and dogs, Hendrix and Janis. Together, we have two grown children: Mitchell (25) and Madelynn (21).
2nd Edition
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
A YA blend of mystery, dark humor, and romance that follows teenage assassin-in-training Hedy Hinterschott’s haunting familial past, complex present fraught with typical nuclear family sensibilities (plus a mysterious first love), as well as her unsure future as the head of the family’s murder-for-hire business.
As a boat of WWII soldiers approach Normandy Beach on June 6, 1943, Charles Trammel, a prep school lad, flashes back through his life, deciphering his life’s messages and lessons, which have led him to this place in his life. Conflicted between his father’s wealth and social status, his mother’s liberal and socialistic values, and one of his prep school teachers, Mrs. Verardi’s, secret past, Charles develops his own sense of honor and his mark in history.
A horror novel-in-rhyme told through the eyes of four misfit teens, unknown to each other. Each has a unique connection to a house in disrepair that is home to an evil entity whose time is running out and must find a new vessel to exist in the realm of humans.
Thank you, Atmosphere Press!
Honored by Literary Titan's Gold Book Award for Assassins Are Us!
“[A] sly, unconventional household enlivens this edgy, delightful romp.” -- Kirkus
“Quill says: Assassins Are Us has great plot twists as much as humorous moments.”
“Assassins Are Us is a whirlwind of action and emotion from the opening page.” -- Literary Titan
“Assassins Are Us delivers action, heart, and laughs in equal measure.” -- Independent Starred Book Review
“Libraries seeking reads for mature teens that hold the added value of surprise and action as well as food for thought and opportunities for classroom or book club discussions will find Assassins Are Us a study in growth and uncommon realizations...” -- Midwest Book Reviews
“Polished YA thriller about the teen daughter in a storied family of assassins.” Book Life
Recommended Reading - Donovan's Bookshelf, D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Assassins Are Us, by Kimberly Van Sickle, is brimmed with twists and turns through one of the most bizarre “what ifs”. Part thriller, part romance, part family drama, and yet somehow still grounded in history, Assassins Are Us is a tale of an assassin-in-training. -- Sociology Group
Check back regularly to see the latest with author, Kimberly Van Sickle
Recognition
2nd Place YA Humor
2nd Place YA Romance
Honorable Mention
YA Mystery
Check back regularly to see the latest with author, Kimberly Van Sickle
Interviews with Author Kimberly Van Sickle
Pride
She appears to be all alone,
However, she is not,
It is her sisters that are known,
To protect her on the spot.
Her majestic, fearsome mount,
Serves as a cautionary tale,
For all creatures to account,
She’ll guard her refuge and not fail.
The lioness and all her pride,
Serve the master, male, and maned,
He sits cloistered above on high,
Thinks his pride is dutifully trained.
Though sights are not as they seem,
The she-beasts have strength and numbers,
The he-cat is a misguided being,
And could be vanquished as he slumbers.
The facade remains just that,
The master poised with smug glower,
Unaware is this kingly cat,
With the pride lies all the power.
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